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CEPA Q&A

Starting this month, The Bulletin will publish a list of the most commonly asked questions concerning issues relating to the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). These and other questions and answer can be found on the Chamber's CEPA page at, www.chamber.org.hk/cepa. If you have a question, please email ruby@chamber.org.hk

QUESTION: When will the Central Government announce the final details of the State Judicial Examination 2004, including the date of the examination and the period for accepting admissions?

ANSWER: Hong Kong permanent residents holding Chinese citizenship need to sit the examination in accordance with the 浿tate Judicial Examination Implementation Measures (Interim) and the standard requirements for judicial examinations in the Mainland. These cover all aspects of the examination, including admission requirements and procedures, the scope and date of the examination as well as relevant rules and regulations, passing criteria and the accreditation of qualification. Details can be found on the Chamber's web site: http://www.chamber.org.hk/info/china/show_laws.asp?id=786. 

The Ministry of Justice will announce detailed arrangements of the examination three months in advance. The Chamber will put them on its Web site when the announcement has been made.

Q: We are planning to manufacture some new products in Hong Kong. If we want to apply for zero import tariff treatment under CEPA, is the absolute deadline March 31, 2004? As this deadline has gone, is there anything that we can do?

A: Starting January 1 this year, goods falling under one of 374 Mainland tariff codes for 2004 originating in Hong Kong enjoy zero import duty under CEPA. The government has extended the application deadline to April 30 for new products to be added to the list. If you submit your application before the deadline for your new products -- which you say have yet to go into production -- you can expect your goods to be included in the preferential tariff list from 2006 at the earliest. If your application is submitted between April 30 this year and April 30 next year, your goods won't qualify for zero tariff treatment until 2007. If your products were currently being produced, tariff elimination could start by 2005 if you submit your application before the deadline at the end of this month.

Q: Individual insurance intermediaries are allowed to sit the basic qualification examination in the Mainland under CEPA. What does this examination entail?

A: Admission requirements for Hong Kong insurance practitioners have yet to be announced. The examination is arranged annually by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, which has issued the "CIRC Notice on Related Matters of the Basic Qualification Examination for Insurance Intermediaries 2004 (CIRC Notice No. 60). For details, visit: http://www.circ.gov.cn/notes/list_detail.asp?AUTO_ID=215 .